Reps investigate NIMASA's billion-naira fraudulent contract awards

The House of Representatives has resolved to Investigate alleged fictitious contract awards, gross mismanagement of billions of naira, and lopsided placement of directors by the Nigerian Maritime Administration And Safety Agency (NIMASA).

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion by Rep. Kingsley Chinda (PDP-Rivers) and five others on the floor of the House in Abuja on Wednesday

In his motion, he expressed concern over recent developments in the award of questionable and phony contracts, fraudulent forex transactions, lopsided placement of directors, and other unwholesome and corrupt practices in the NIMASA.

He said there had been several allegations of questionable, inflated, and fictitious contract awards, particularly for non-operational speed boats, security surveillance contracts, and the Deep Blue Water Contract.

This, he said, had led to revenue leakages and the award of contracts to cronies of the Director-General and other top management staff of the agency.

He raised concerns over the alleged under-remittance of debts owed the country by Shipping firms with the consent and connivance of the agency.

He said the agency was alleged to have entered into a very dubious contract with a firm known as XPO Marine Limited’ for the lease of six speed boats, each at the rate of 173,930.00 dollars monthly, without a needs assessment.

He said XPO Marine Ltd had earlier been indicted for defrauding the agency to the tune of $80,000 in revenue.

He said security surveillance contract called Deep Blue Water Contract’ was suspected to be a conduit by the management of the agency to pilfer funds.

According to him, a security contract tagged National Integrated Surveillance and Waterways Protection’ is also said to have been awarded to an Israeli firm,

HSLI Systems and Technologies Limited

This, accordingto him, is at a cost of $195,300,000.00, despite an existing facility, which is a simple internet subscription via Lloyds Intelligence Platform for such operations.

He said the agency was also said to have an existing surveillance system called Lloyd’s List Intelligence for tracking the movement of vessels in Nigeria’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The lawmaker said he was aware of other allegations, such as abuse of office and lopsided appointment and placement of Directors of the Agency in favor of some interests to the detriment of others and in breach of S. 14(3) of the Constitution.

“I am aware of allegations of high-level corruption against the DG and top management of the agency in the form of withholding of remittable revenue by Gas Shipping Nigeria Limited and Daddo Marine Ltd., among others.

Adopting the motion, the house therefore set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the allegations and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.